Multiport valves



May 1, 1956 H. MANSEN MULTIPORT VALVES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1,1952 ar'iy ans-em M May 1, 1956 Filed Aug. 1, 1952 H. MANSEN MULTIPORTVALVES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 1, 1956 H. MANSEN 2,743,739

MULTIPORT VALVES l d A J,I 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 70 TOP OF .5OF7'E/VER O0 507m O Ira 6172 55 y 1, 1956 H. MANSEN 2,743,739

MULTIPORT VALVES Filed Aug. 1, 1952 r 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fave/E21 May 1,1956 H. MANSEN MULTIPORT VALVES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States PatentMULTIPORT VALVES Harry Mansen, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Elgin SoftenerCorporation, Elgin, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original applicationDecember 29, 1944, Serial No. 570,271, now Patent No. 2,644,484, datedJuly 7, 1953. and this application August 1, 1952, Serial No.

17 Claims. (Cl. 137-627) This application is a division of my copendingapplica tion Serial No. 570,271, filed December 29, 1944, which resultedin Patent No. 2,644,484, issued July 7, 1953. This invention relates tomultiport valves of the type used for controlling the flow of water andbrine through a zeolite softener in the phases of softening,backwashing, brining, and rinsing.

In multiport valves, the shifting of the stem plate from one position toanother results in a violent water-hammer unless the flow of incomingwater is shut off, and furthermore, unless provision is made for reliefof hydraulic pressure from the stem plate preliminary to the shiftingthereof, the operation is, of course, rendered more dithcult. A shut-offvalve and a pressure relief valve have accordingly been provided incertain multiport valves.

In the multiport valve of my invention, 1 provide a pressure fluidoperable diaphragm mechanism, preferably inside the cover of themultiport valve, which is adapted to be actuated by admission ofpressure thereto to close the shut-off valve and open the relief valveWhenever it is desired to shift the stem plate from one position toanother. The diaphragm subjected to water pressure from the supply lineis substantially larger in diameter than the shutoff valve, so that theshut-off valve is movable to closed position against the pressure of theincoming Water to close the pressure port.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a multiportvalve of the kind mentioned, in which the relief valve while arranged toopen downwardly in the closing of the shut-off valve for relief ofhydraulic pressure from the stem plate seats upwardly partly underspring pressure and partly under hydraulic pressure, thus reducinglikelihood of leakage of Water to the drain.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a multiport valveof the kind mentioned, movable through 90 from each operative positionto the next, and an automatic operating mechanism for shifting the stemplate from one position to another and admitting pressure fluid to thediaphragm mechanism and relieving such pressure in proper timed relationto these movements of the stem plate, said automatic operating mechanismincluding a synchronous motor for driving the timing means forming apart of the operating mechanism so as to make and break the electricalcircuit for the motor that turns the stem plate so as to allow theproper time intervals between movements of the stem plate forbackwashing, brining, and rinsing. The synchronous motor is arranged tohave the electrical circuit therefor broken automatically when thetiming means has been turned through one complete revolution,corresponding to a complete turn of the stem plate, and this motor willbe started at the end of the service run either by manual operation of aswitch or automatic operation of a switch by a hardness tester, watermeter, time clock, or any other suitable means such as are well known inthe art.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a multiport valve made inaccordance with my invention, showing the stem plate and body in sectionof the lines 11 of Figs. 2 and 3, the upper portion of the valve beingbroken away to permit showing the valve on a larger scale;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stem plate partly in horizontal section onthe line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the body on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cover plate of the valve shown in Fig. 1,showing the timing means in horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig.1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are two views of the upper portion of the valve broken offof Fig. 1, and

Fig. 7 is an electrical wiring diagram pertinent to Figs. 1 to 6.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughoutthe views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 10' designates thestator or body member of a valve on which a cap or cover 11' is suitablysecured compressing a gasket 12 therebetween to prevent leakage. Thecover encloses the rotor or stem plate 13' which in its four operativepositionsservice, backwash, brine, and rinsecontrols the flow of waterthrough the valve by providing a different system of communicationbetween the various ports in the body 10 in each of the four positions.The body 10 is shown in Fig. 3, and the stem plate 13' in Fig. 2. Itshould be understood that although the valve is one especially designedfor use in controlling the iiow of Water to and from a zeolite watersoftener, the invention is not to be regarded as limited to that or anyother specific application, but is applicable to valves generally.

The body 10' has a central pressure port 15 which communicates with araw water supply pipe. A valve seat ring 16' is inserted in the port 15and projects upwardly from the body inside the cover 11' for cooperationwith a shut-off valve 17'. A partition wall 39 is pro vided in the coverseparating the water pressure chamber 31 from an atmospheric chamber 32in which the pres sure fluid operable means 49' for reciprocating thestem 28' for operation of the shut-off valve 17' and pressure reliefvalve 58 is provided. A top closure plate 84 is suitably secured on topof the cover 11', closing the atmospheric chamber 32 which is left opento the atmosphere through one or more air vents: 33 provided in theupper side wall of the cover. The plate 84, as will soon appear, servesas a base plate or support for the automatic valve operating means,indicated generally by the reference numeral 35 shown in Figs. 5 and 6,and the automatic timing mechanism, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 86 shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The ports in the body In have rings 24! pressed therein and projectingupwardly from the body a. uniform height determined by annular shoulders25 on the outside thereof engaging the top face of the body. These ringshave rubber seal rings 26 surrounding the same and seated on the flattop face of the body with their upper ends projecting slightly beyondthe ends of the rings 24- for sealing contact with the flat bottom faceof the stem plate 13'. The rings 26, therefore, perform the sealingfunction, while the I rings 24 serve positively to limit compression ofthe rings 26, thus preventing damage thereto. With this arrangementthere is no necessity for lifting the stem plate before it is turnedfrom one position to another. The fact that the hydraulic pressure onthe stem plate is relieved preliminary to the turning of the stem plate,as will soon appear, greatly reduces the drag which there wouldotherwise be of the stem plate on the gasket rings 26, and the stemplate can therefore be turned with less effort and with less likelihoodof damage to these rings.

The shut-off valve 17, in accordance with my invention,

pressure.

3 is t'nounted on the end of a stem 28' that extends through a stuffingbox provided in the center of wall 30 which separates the water pressurechamber 31 in the cover 11 from atmospheric chamber 32' in the upperportion of the cover. A plate 34' suitably secure'd on the lower end ofthe stem 28 has the shut-off valve 17' rotatably and universallytiltably mounted thereon so as to permit the shut-off valve to adjustitself in relation to the stem 28' and plate 34 for uniform engagementon the seat ring 16'. The plate 34 furthermore, has circumferentiallyspaced holes 35 therein which receive with a free sliding fit pins 36projecting upwardly from bosses provid'ed on the stem plate. These pins36 are in parallel relation to one another and fit freely in the holes35 to maintain a sliding operating connection between the plate 34' andthe stem plate 13' in all positions of up and down adjustment of thestem 28. The stem 28 has a square center hole 37 receiving With a closeworking fit the square lower end portion 38 of the operating stem 59'.

Y A pressure plate is formed integral with the upper end of the stem 28'and is clamped to the inner marginal portion of a flexible diaphragm49', the outer marginal portion ofthe diaphragm being similarly clampedto a back plate 51' that is fixed to the stem 39. Water under pressurefrom the same supply pipe that extends to the pressure port 15' may beadmitted to the diaphragm chamber 53' through a passage 54' provided inthe stem 39' which communicates at its upper end with a pipe that isarranged to be placed in communication through a three-way valve with apipe connected to the supply pipe,

or opened through said three-way valve to the atmosphere. While I preferto utilize water under pressure from the supply source, I may moreconveniently, in some installations, utilize compressed air, or someother fluid under Assuming water under pressure from the supply sourceis supplied through the pipe and the three-Way valve is turned to aposition establishing communication between the pipe and the diaphragmchamber 53', the stem 28 is immediately forced downwardly underhydraulic pressure to seat the shut-01f valve 17 and unseat the pressurerelief valve 58', so that the stem plate 13 can be turned easily. Thestem 39 serves to transmit rotation to the stem 28 through the slidabledriving connection indicated at 37-38', so that there is no load imposedupon the diaphragm 49. After the stem plate 13 has been shifted to thedesired position, the three-way valve is turned to disconnect thediaphragm chamber 53 from the pressure source and open the diaphragmchamber to the atmosphere, whereupon a coiled compression spring 59,compressed between the pressure plate 48' and wall 30, serves to returnthe pressure plate 48 tothe fully retracted position shown, thus openingthe shut-01f valve 17' and allowing the relief valve 58 to close. Thediaphragm 49' is of sufiicient diameter relation to the smaller diameterof the shut-off valve 17 'to insure prompt closing of the shut-off valvewhen water under pressure from the supply source is delivered to thediaphragm chamber 53, but when the diaphragm "chamber is opened to theatmosphere the shut-off valve 17"will becaused to open promptly underhydraulic pressure just as it would if there were no spring 59. Thepurpose of the spring 59' is merely to insure more prompt and completebacking up of the shut-off valveand to insureitsstaying fully retractedso as to avoid any likelihood of restriction to flow of water throughtheport 15'.

As appears in Fig. 6, the valve, which normally has its stem plate 13 inthe service position, is arranged to be turned through 90 for each ofthree other positions, in- 'dicated on top of the worm gear 87 asbackwash, brine, and rinse. A suitable index mark will be provided on astationary part of the valve, as indicated in dotted lines at'88 in Fig.6, so that the operator can determine at a glance in what position thevalve is set at any given time. The stem plate 13 is shown in thecharged to the drain runs clear.

7 4 service position in Fig. 2 in relation to the plan view of the body10 shown in Fig. 3. In this position, raw water under pressure from thecenter port 15' flows through the registering ports A and B to the topof the softener for passage downwardly through the bed of watersoftening material for softening. The softened water leaving the bottomof the tank is conducted through registering ports C and D, passageway'13, and "registering ports F and G to the service system. When the bedof water softening material requires regeneration, the stem plate isturned in a clockwise direction through from service position tobackwash position, whereupon the port H registers with port C toconduct'raw water under pressure to the bottom of the softener for passageupwardly through the bed to break it up and clean 'out sedimentdeposited on the top of the bed during the softening operation. Thewaste water leaving the top of the tank is conducted through registeringports 13 and I, passage J, and registering 'ports K and L to the drain.During this backwash operation, two additional connections areestablished, one through registering ports M and N to the brinetank,'and the other through registering ports 0 and G to the servicesystem. Of course, these two connections may, and often will, beomitted, the first mentioned connection being used for filling the brinetank in certain installations, and the other connection being to by-passraw water to the service system where such supply is desired. Thebackwash operation is continued for a short time, or until the waterdis- The-stem plate is then turned through another 90 in a clockwisedirection to brine position. In this position, port P registers withport Q, and port 'R with N, and S with C, and T' with L, therebyestablishing a main flew from the brine tank through ports N and R,passageway U, and ports P and Q to the top of the softener for passageof brine through the bed of water softening material for regenerationthereof. The spent brine leaving the bottom of the softener is conductedto the drain through registerin'g'po'rts'Cand 'S, pass'age V, andregistering ports T 'andL. If 'by pa'ss of hard water to the servicesystem is desired during brining, it is taken care of.

through registering ports W and G. 7 After a predetermined amount ofbrine has b'een' passed through the bed of water softening materialsufficient for regeneration thereof, the stem plate'is turned in aclockwise direction through 90 from the brine position to rinseposition. In this position, the main flow'is through communicating portsX and B to the top of 'the-softener for passage of the rinse waterdownwardly through the bed, the waste water leaving the bottom of thesoftener "tank being conducted to the drain through communicating portsC and Y, and passage Z, and communicating ports A1 and L. Where by-passof hard water to the service system during the rinse operation isdesired, this is obtained by registration of a port Az -with the port G.The stem plate is left in the rinse position for a short time, or untilthe water being discharged "tests soft, whereu on the stem plate isturned in 'atel'ockwisedire'c'tionthrough 90 from rinse position toservice position, thus completing the cycle.

Between the hollow bosses 89, in which the passages I and Z areprovided, the stem plate 13 "has a port A3 which registers Withthe drainport L whenthe stern plate is in service position. A smooth-ended nipple90 is entered with a press fit in the port A3 for support of a hollowfitting 91above and in'spacedrelation'to the stem .pressure relief valve58' is normally urged upwardly toward closed position partly by waterpressure and partly by the action of a coiled compression spring 69'correct times in the cycle.

which is caged under the washer 70 on the upper end portion of the stem61. A fiat seat 92 is provided on the bottom of the fitting 91 for thepressure relief valve. The

fact that the valve is held seated under water pressure,

instead of having the water pressure tending to unseat it, is importantfrom the standpoint of avoiding leakage of water to the drain during thenormal softening operation.

In passing, it will be observed that the shut-01f valve 28' to seat theshut-off valve 17 under pressure when water, air, or other fluid underpressure is admitted to the diaphragm chamber 53. The stem 28' isadapted to transmit rotation to the stem plate through pins 36 which areentered slidably in holes 35' provided therefor in the plate 34', andthe stem 39 has a driving connection with the stem 28' through themedium of a square shank portion 38' slidably received in a square hole37' provided in the stem 28', thereby relieving the diaphragm 49' of thestrain which would otherwise be imposed upon it in transmitting powerfrom the stem 39' to the stem 28 in the turning of the stem plate 13. Acoiled compression spring 59 acting between the partition wall and thestem 28 tends normally to raise the plate 34' so as to unseat theshut-off valve 17 and seat the pressure relief valve 58. This spring iscompressed when the pressure fluid is admitted to the diaphragm chamber53' to seat the shut-oif valve and unseat the pressure relief valve, butwhen the pressure in the diaphragm chamher 53' is subsequently relieved,the spring 59 returns the parts to the normal position illustrated inFig. 1.

The valve shown in Fig. 1 is arranged to be operated automatically fromone operative position to another,

each time through 90, and an electric motor 93 is the motive means, theelectrical circuit through this motor being automatically closed whenthe stem plate has been left in the backwash position, for example, fora predetermined length of time, whereby to start the motor 93 tornovethe stem plate 13 through 90 to the brine position, the electricalcircuit being automatically broken at that point for stoppage of themotor 93. A synchronous motor 94 is the timer, and assuming the completecycle for a regeneration, in which the valve is moved from service tobackwash position and left in that posi tion for a predetermined lengthof time, and then moved to brine position and left there for a longerperiod of time, and then moved to rinse position and left there apredetermined length of time, and finally is turned to service position,consumes about one hour, the motor 94, once it is started for the cycle,will run that long. The starting of this motor 94 may be accomplished bythe .closing of a switch manually or automatically by a hard- .nesstester, a water meter, a time clock, or any other suitable means wellknown in the water softener art. As will soon appear, with the presentconstruction the motor 94 stops automatically when the shaft 95, that isdriven from the motor 94 through a suitable reduction gearing providedin the casing 96, has made one complete revolution. The shaft 95operates the timing mechanism 85 comprising cams 97 and 98 for operatingthe stems 99 and 100 of two poppet valves 101 and 102 respectively, and

two other cams 103 and 104 for operating two pairs of make-and-breakelectrical contact springs, one of which pairs appears in dotted linesat 105-106 in Fig. 1. The contacts 105-106, in closing, close electricalcircuits through the motor 93 to start the same at the There are pairsof contacts like the pair 107108, shown in Fig. 5, mounted on a disk 109that is stationarily mounted on suitable supports 110 below worm gear87. These two pairs of contacts have wiping contact with concentricrings 111 and 112 of electrical conducting material mounted in a disk113 of insulating material. The ring 111 has segments 114 and 115 indiametrically opposed relation that are of electrically non-conductingmaterial. In like manner, the ring 112 has diametrically opposedsegments 116 and 117 of non-conducting material. Thus, referring towiring diagram Fig. 7, the motor 93 for turning the stem plate by meansof the worm 118 meshing with the worm gear 87, may have an electricalcircuit completed therethrough from the electrical power source 119through either of two branches, each of which always has one switchclosed preparatory to the completion of a circuit upon the closing ofthe other switch in that branch. Thus the switch 107-408, correspondingto contacts 107 and 108, is shown open, but the other correspondingswitch 107-108 in the other branch is closed, because the one set ofcontacts 107 and 108 cooperate with the ring 111 and are open-circuitedby the segments 114 and 115 when the valve is in either the serviceposition or the brine position, whereas the other set of contacts 107and 108' are open-circuited only at the positions intermediate thosejust named, namely, the backwash and rinse positions. in like manner, itwill be noted that the switch 105106 in the one branch is shown closed,the same corresponding to the contacts 105 and 106 cooperating with cam104. The other set of contacts are 105' and 106' cooperating with cam103, and are open, as indicated by the switch 105106' in the otherbranch. In operation, therefore, the motor 93, having stopped in theservice position with the switch 107-100 open, will be thrown intooperation in the commencement of the regeneration cycle when the switch105'-106' is closed at an early interval in the turning of the cam 103with the shaft 95, and, of course, when the stem plate has been movedthrough the switch 107108 automatically opens. In the meantime, switch107--108 has been closed and switch -106 has been opened and the partsare, therefore, in a position preparatory to the commencement of theoperation of the motor 93 at the end of the backwash, at which timecontacts 105 and 106 are again closed by cam 104. The cams 103 and 104have knobs like that indicated at 120 in Fig. 1 in the proper angularlyspaced relation to close and open the contacts 105-106 and 105106 in theproper timed relationship, allowing a predetermined time interval forthe backwash, a greater time interval for the brining, and another timeinterval for the rinse. In that way, the present valve may be leftunattended once the operator has commenced the regeneraion of thesoftener, say by closing a manually operable switch to start thesynchronous motor 94. The circuit for the motor 94 is brokenautomatically when the stem plate returns to the service position at theend of the regeneration cycle, so that there is nothing left for theoperator to do after the regeneration cycle has been commenced. Now, ofcourse, the regeneration cycle may be commenced automatically, as statedbefore, by the automatic closing of a switch for the motor 94 by ahardness tester, water meter, time clock, or any other suitable meanswell known in the water softener art. Preliminary to the turning of thestem plate 13, pressure is admitted to the diaphragm chamber 53, andafter each 90 movement of the stem plate the pressure in the diaphragmchamber 53 is relieved by the operation or" the valves 101 and 102 bymeans of the cams 97 and 98 in proper timed relation to the closing andopening of the contacts 105-106 and 105106' by the cams 104 and 103respectively. The valves 101 and 102 are provided in the pilot valve121, the body of which is made up of? three sections suitably boltedtogether in water-tight relationship to provide three chambers x, y andz. The chamber x has a bottom opening an the chamber y a bottorn openingyr, and chamber z a bottom opening Z1. The openings yr and Z2 leaddirectly down into separate channels in the boss 122 that is castintegral with the plate 84, but the opening x1 is connected with a thirdchannel in the boss 122 through a passage 1.23, indicated in Fig. 1,provided in the bottom portion of the pilot "valve body. The channels inthe boss 1-22 areindicated in dotted lines at 124 in Fig. l andconnecting passages at 125 leading upwardly from the channels 124 forcommunication with the respective bottom openings xi, yr, and 11.Through this system of ports, channels, and passages, and alsocon-ti-nuations thereof in the plate 8 2-, the chamber x is connected toa source of pressure supply, as for example, the Water supply port 15'in the body of the valve, while chamber z is connected to the drain pipe20, and chamber y with the diaphragm chamber 53' through the passage 54'in the stem 39.

'The valve 101 controls communication between chambers x and vy throughthe port 126, and the valve Hi2 controls communication between chambersy and z 7 through the port '127,"the both valves being normally heldclosed under the action of springs 128. it follows, therefore, that thediaphragm chamber 53 is at atmospheric pressure when the valve 182 isopened but valve till is closed, as illustrated in Fig. 4-. However,when valve 102 is closed and valve 101 is opened, the diaphragm chamber53 is under pressure from the pressure source. The stems 99 and 100 forthe valves 101 and 102 are,

of course, operated in proper timed relation by the cams legitimatemodifications and adaptations.

I claim:

V 1. In a plate type valve comprising a ported body member, a portedstem plate adaptedto effect different communications between the portsin the body member in different positions of the plate, and a covermember on the body member enclosing 'the plate, one of said membershaving a pressure port normally communicating with the inside of thecover member, whereby said stem plate is normally held seated underpressure, one of the ports in the body member being a low pressure drainport, said stem (plate having a port provided therein communicating withsaid last named port, a pressure relief valve comprising an invertedgenerally L-shaped fitting entered in said last named stem plate portand having a relief valve member seating upwardly to cover a port in thebottom of the cross-portion thereof, said relief valve member having astem extending through the cross-portion of said fitting, and springmeans cooperating with the projecting upper end portion of said stemnormally to hold the relief valve member seated, and means for turningthe plate from one position to another including a part movabledownwardly with respecttosaid plate to operate the relief valve stem tounseat the relief valve member against the action of said spring meansand against pressure inside the cover member for relief of pressure onsaid plate prior to movement thereof.

2. In a plate type valve comprising aported body member, a ported stemplate adapted to effect different com- :munication between the ports inthe body member in dif- 'ferent positions of theplate, and a covermember on the body member enclosing the plate, one of said membershaving apressure port normally communicating with the inside of thecover member, whereby said stem plate is normallyhe'ld seated underpressure, one of said members having a low pressure drain port, anupwardly seating spring'closed pressure relief valve for said drain portcom pletely exposed at its inlet side to the pressure in said covermember and arranged to be opened against both spring pressure andpressure in said cover member by movement downwardly with respect tosaid stem plate, and means for turning the stem plate from one positionto another including a par-t movable downwardly with respect to the stemplate to open said relief valve was to permit movement 'of the stemplate free of pressure. 3. Ina plate type valve comprising aported bodymember, a ported stem plate adapted to effect different communicationbetween the ports in the body .member in different positions of theplate, and a cover member on the body member enclosing the plate, one ofsaid members having a pressure port normally communicating with theinside of the cover member, whereby said stem plate is normally heldseated under pressure, a shut olf valve arranged to close said pressureport, one of the ports in the body member being a low pressure drainport, said stem plate having a port provided therein communicating withsaid last named port, a pressure relief valve comprising an invertedgenerally L-shapedfitt'ingtentered in said last named stem plate portand having a relief valve member seating upwardly to cover a port in thebottom of the cross-portion thereof, said relief valve'mem'berihaving astem extending through'the cross-portion of said fitting, and springmeans cooperating with the projecting upper end portion of said stemnormally to hold the relief valve seated, a shut-off valve for saidpressure port .rnovable downwardly with respect to the stem plate toclosed position, and means for turning the plate from one position toanother including apart movable downwardly with respect to said plate tooperate the relief valve stem to unseat the relief valve member againstthe action of said spring means and against pressure inside the covermemher for relief of pressure on said plate prior toimovement thereof,said means being varrangedin the sarne movement to close the shut-offvalve. l v 4. In a plate type valve comprising a ported body mem her, aported stem plate adapted Ito efiect different communication between theports in the body member-in different positions of the plate, and acover member orrthe body member enclosing the plate, one of said membershaving a pressure port normally communicating with the inside of thecover member, whereby said stem plate is normally held seated underpressure, and one of said members having a low pressure drain port, anupwardly seating spring closed pressure relief valve for said drain portcompletely exposed at its inlet side to the pressure in said covermember and arranged to be'opened against both spring pressure andpressure in said cover member by movement downwardly with respect tosaidstem plate, a shut-off valve for said pressure port vmovabledownwardly with respect to the stem plate to closed position, and meansfor turning the stem plate fromone position to another including a partmovable downwardly with respect to the stem plate to close the shut-offvalve and open said relief valve so as to permit movement of the stemplate free of pressure.

5. In a plate type valve comprising a-ported bodyfmember, a ported stemplate adapted to 'efiechdifierent communication between the ports in thebodymember in different positions of rotation of the plate, and ac'overmember on the body member enclosing said plate, one of saidmembers having a pressure port normally communicating with the inside ofthe cover member'whereby said plate is normally'held seated underhydraulic pressure, and one of said members having a low pressure drainport, valve means for closing the pressureport and opening the drainport to permit easy turning of the stem plate free of pressure, pressurefluid operable means for operating the last mentioned valve means, valvemeans connected withta source of pressure fluid supply and withapressure fluid drain for controlling communication of saidpressurefluid operable means with the source of pressure fluid supply and alsorelease of such pressure from the pressure fluid operable means to thedrain, electrical motor means for turning said stem plate from oneposition to anothenmake and break contact meanscontrolling connection ofsaid tact means and the valvemeans controlling the pressure fluidoperable means.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 5, including a synchronous electricmotor for continuously operating said timing means through a cycle inwhich the stem plate is given a plurality of movements from oneoperative position to another.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 5, .including a synchronouselectric motor for continuously operating said timing means through acycle in which the stem plate is given a plurality of movements from oneoperative position to another, said timing means comprising profiledcams having hills and valleys in a predetermined angularly spacedrelationship for predetermining the time relationship between therelease of pressure in the cover member and the movement of thestemplate and also the length of the time intervals between movements ofsaid stem plate.

8. In a plate type valve comprising a ported body member, a ported stemplate adapted to effect different communication between the ports in thebody member in different positions of rotation of the plate, and a covermember on the body member enclosing said plate, one of said membershaving a pressure port normally communieating with the inside of thecover member whereby said plate is normally held seated under hydraulicpressure, valve means for closing the pressure port, pressure fluidoperable means for operating the last mentioned valve means, valve meansconnected with a source of pressure fluid supply and with a pressurefluid drain for controlling communication of said pressure fluidoperable means with the source of pressure fluid supply and also releaseof such pressure from the pressure fluid operable means to the drain,electrical motor means for turning said stem plate from one position toanother, make and break contact means controlling connection of saidmotor means with a source of electric current supply, and timing meansfor operating in timed relation the contact means and the valve meanscontrolling the pressure fluid operable means.

9. A structure as set forth in claim 8, including a synchronous electricmotor for continuously operating said timing means through a cycle inwhich the stem plate is given a plurality of movements from oneoperative position to another.

10. A structure as set forth in claim 8, including a synchronouselectric motor for continuously operating said timing means through acycle in which the stem plate is given a plurality of movements from oneoperative position to another, said timing means comprising profiledcams having hills and valleys in a predetermined angularly spacedrelationship for predetermining the time relationship between therelease of pressure in the cover member and the movement of the stemplate and also the length of the time intervals between movements ofsaid stem plate.

11. In a plate type valve comprising a ported body member, a ported stemplate adapted to effect different communication between the ports in thebody member in different positions of rotation of the plate, and a covermember on the body member enclosing said plate, one of said membershaving a pressure port normally communicating with the inside of thecover member whereby said plate is normally held seated under hydraulicpressure, and one of said members having a low pressure drain port,valve means for opening the drain port whereby to permit easy turning ofthe stem plate free of pressure, pressure fluid operable means foroperating the last mentioned valve means, valve means connected with asource of pressure fluid supply and with a pressure fluid drain forcontrolling communication of said pressure fluid operable means with thesource of pressure fluid supply and also release of such pressure fromthe pressure fluid operable means to the drain, electrical motor meansfor turning said stern plate from one position to another, make andbreak contact means controlling connection of said motor means with asource of electric current supply, and timing means for operatingintimed relation the contact means and the valve means controlling thepressure fluid operable means.

12. A structure as set forth in claim 11, including synchronous electricmotor for continuously operating said timing means through a cycle inwhich the stem plate is given a plurality of movements from oneoperative position to another.

13. A structure as set forth in claim 11, including a synchronouselectric motor for continuously operating said timing means through acycle in which the stem plate is given a plurality of movements from oneoperative position to another, said timing means comprising profiledcams having hills and valleys in a predetermined angularly spacedrelationship for predetermining the time relationship between therelease of pressure in the cover member and the movement of the stemplate and also the length of the time intervals between movements ofsaid stem plate.

14. In a plate type valve comprising a ported body member, a ported stemplate adapted to effect different communications between the ports inthe body member in different positions of the plate, and a cover memberon the body member enclosing the plate, one of said members having apressure port normally communicating with the inside of the covermember, whereby said stem plate is normally held seated under pressure,one of the ports in the body member being a low pressure drain port,said stem plate having a port provided therein communicating with saidlast named port, a. pressure relief valve comprising an invertedgenerally L-shaped fitting entered in said last named sternv plate portand having a relief valve member seating upwardly to cover a port in thebottom of the cross-portion thereof, said relief valve member having astem extending through the cross-portion of said fitting, and springmeans arranged normally to hold the relief valve member seated, andmeans for turning the piate from one position to another including apart movable downwardly with respect to said plate to operate the reliefvalve stem to unseat the relief valve member against the action of saidspring means and against pressure inside the cover member for relief ofpressure on said plate prior to movement thereof.

15. In a plate type valve comprising a ported body member, a ported stemplate adapted to effect different communications between the ports inthe body member in different positions of the plate, and a cover memberon the body member enclosing the plate, one of said members having apressure port normally communicating with the inside of the covermember, whereby said stem plate is normally held seated under pressure,one of the ports in the body member being a low pressure drain port,said stem plate having a port provided therein communicating with saidlast named port, a pressure relief valve comprising an invertedgenerally L-shaped fitting entered in said last named stem plate portand having a relief valve member seating upwardly under pressure of aspring means to cover a port in the bottom of the cross-portion thereof,and means for turning the plate from one position to another including apart movable downwardly with respect to said plate to unseat the reliefvalve member against the action of said spring means and againstpressure inside the cover member for relief of pressure on said plateprior to movement thereof.

16. In a plate type valve comprising a ported body member, a ported stemplate adapted to effect different communications between the ports inthe body member in different positions of the plate, and a cover memberon the body member enclosing the plate, one of said members having apressure port normally communicating with the inside of the covermember, whereby said stem plate is normally held seated under pressure,one of the ports in the body member being a low pressure drain port,said stem plate having a port provided therein communicating with saidlast named port, a pressure 'r'e'liefva'lve eornpri'sin'g an invertedgenerally 'L-shaped fitting entered in said last named stem plate portand having a relief valve member seating upwardly to cover a port 'inthe bottom of the cross-portion thereof, said relief valve member havinga stern extending through the cross-portion of said fitting, and springmeans arranged normally to hold the relief valve member seated, a shut-'olf valve 'for'said pressure port movable downwardly with respectto thestem plate to closed position, and means for turning the plate from oneposition to another including'a part movable downwardly with respect tosaid plate to operate the relief valve stem to unseat the relief valvemember against the action of said spring means and against pressureinside the cover member for relief of pressure on said plate prior tomovement thereof, said means being arranged in the same movement toclose the shut-01f valve.

'17. ha plate type valve comprising a ported body member, a ported stemplate adapted to effect different communications between the ports inthe body member in different positions of the plate, and a cover memberon the body member enclosing the plate, one of said members having apressure port normally communicating with the inside of thercovermember, whereby said stern plate is normally held seated under pressure,one

of the ports in the body member being a low pressure drain port, saidstem plate having a port provided therein communicating with said lastnamed port, a pressure relief valve-comprising an inverted generallyL-shaped fitting entered in said last named stern plate port and havinga relief valve member seating upwardly under pressure of a spring meansto cover a port in the bottom of the cross-portion thereof, a shut-offvalve for said pressure port movable downwardly with respect to the stemplate to closed position, and means for turning the plate from oneposition to another including a part movable downwardly with respect tosaid plate to unseat the relief valve member against the action of saidspring means and against pressure inside the cover member for relief ofpressure on said plate prior tomovement thereof,

said means being arranged in the same movement to close the shut-offvalve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,093,692 Daniels Sept, 21, 1937 2,235,287 Daniels Mar. 18, 19412,310,978 McGill Feb. 16, 1943 2,398,437 McGill Apr. 16, 1946 2,611,392Johnson Sept. 23, 1952

